So after mastering the extremely simple art of magnet swapping, I found myself swapping magnets just for the sake of swapping magnets. It was a lot of fun - and pretty darned informative. I learned quite a bit about the subtle - and not so subtle - differences that various magnets make on differing winds. I ‘thought’ my all time perfect pickup was the Custom wind with a UOA5 mag. After watching the big Pete Thorn / Dave Friedman pickup shootout, I walked away really liking the sound of the ceramic magnet in the lighter wood Explorer / Destroyer guitar. I’ve got an oil finished Roasted Swamp Ash strat with a single hum and a non-locking 2-point trem in my arsenal. Super light, super resonant, and tends to be a bit ‘tubby’ if you have too soft a pickup in it. I had a UOA5 Custom in there for a while and thought I loved it - but today, I lifted the pickup to put the stock ceramic magnet back in, and its just better everywhere. Tighter low end, and more ‘sizzle’ on top. I know this stuff is entirely guitar and rig dependent. But this particular warm, dark, light weight guitar really stepped up a notch with a ceramic magnet. Anyone else dig the Custom SH / TB 5 as shipped???
Any Love for the Box-Stock Duncan Custom???
- Thread starter PDC
- Start date
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Great for heavy rhythms. Into a Mesa it’s lots of grindy riffing fun.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
One of the few ceramic hums I've ever really bonded with.
I agree, classic in a Les Paul and great in mahogany.
Never tried it in a Fender scale guitar. Yet.
I agree, classic in a Les Paul and great in mahogany.
Never tried it in a Fender scale guitar. Yet.
I can certainly see why players can love the Custom, especially who play heavier more chunky music. It has a solid articulate low end and a brilliant high end. I could never bond with it because of the nature of the high tones...I can only describe it as sounding "brittle" to me, like it's about to break at any time. "Sizzle", as the OP said, is also a good description. I like the smoother sound of either UOA5 or A8. In a warm sounding guitar, like the OP has described, It is probably a great choice. Either that or the C5.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Nothing but love for the Custom. I have only ever had it in Les Paul style guitars. I can't see a reason for NOT loving it as is.
Now - that said...it is hot, it is tight, it does have thump and scream. If you want it for subtle blues styling with lots of warmth and roundness on the high end....you might be a bit disappointed. If you are getting it for a low head room amp and like to play ultra clean...again, probably not a good thing.
If you are getting it for Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Heavy Metal, etc....and want it to drive an amp or be tight and crisp. All good. Five stars.
Now - that said...it is hot, it is tight, it does have thump and scream. If you want it for subtle blues styling with lots of warmth and roundness on the high end....you might be a bit disappointed. If you are getting it for a low head room amp and like to play ultra clean...again, probably not a good thing.
If you are getting it for Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Heavy Metal, etc....and want it to drive an amp or be tight and crisp. All good. Five stars.
LLL
New member
Yes.
Recorded this with my early 80's Custom:
Also the 1st album VH pickup for the Frankenstrat tunes.
Ronnie LeTekro's (TNT) pickup as well.
I think a lot of people swap the ceramic magnet out because with the gear they use, the top end is "shrill". Never had that problem with either of my old (1980's) or new (2010's) SH-5. I typically use Marshall plexi or juiced plexi amp circuits.
I did a spectrum analysis of both pickups and they are extremely close on the frequency spectrum. Theory has it a ceramic magnet does not lose its strength over time.
Recorded this with my early 80's Custom:
Also the 1st album VH pickup for the Frankenstrat tunes.
Ronnie LeTekro's (TNT) pickup as well.
I think a lot of people swap the ceramic magnet out because with the gear they use, the top end is "shrill". Never had that problem with either of my old (1980's) or new (2010's) SH-5. I typically use Marshall plexi or juiced plexi amp circuits.
I did a spectrum analysis of both pickups and they are extremely close on the frequency spectrum. Theory has it a ceramic magnet does not lose its strength over time.
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CaptainWhizz
New member
If I could only use one bridge humbucker in all of my guitars, it would be the TB-5.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Yeah - as much as I love the Distortion....for all the time everything, a Custom would be better.
Condemned soul
New member
Just swapped out the Full Shred in my Charvel Dinky 24 fret for a trembucker version of the Custom. Works well with the single coils and is very responsive.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Question for the OP: When you mention Mag Swapping and Box-Stock, I get the impression that you feel most people mod this pickup?
1. It comes in three flavors "Out of the box". Custom (Ceramic), Custom Custom (A2) and Custom-5 (A5).
- It seems to me you love the C5, not the Custom!
2. The C5, with a UOA5 or whatever, is a slightly tweaked version of the C5.
- But C5 or leaked, it is VERY different from the Custom
3. The CC is often twiddled with for tighter bass or more highs
- Especially in all mahogany LP styles
- It is amazing in a Floyded Superstrat and left "as is" or Box-Stock as you say
1. It comes in three flavors "Out of the box". Custom (Ceramic), Custom Custom (A2) and Custom-5 (A5).
- It seems to me you love the C5, not the Custom!
2. The C5, with a UOA5 or whatever, is a slightly tweaked version of the C5.
- But C5 or leaked, it is VERY different from the Custom
3. The CC is often twiddled with for tighter bass or more highs
- Especially in all mahogany LP styles
- It is amazing in a Floyded Superstrat and left "as is" or Box-Stock as you say
As Jeremy said, the Custom is one of those pups which sound great (not just good) with any magnet. Just depends on the guitar and the sound you want. I've tried all of the stock "out of the box" magnet versions (A2, A5, ceramic) and with UOA5, roughcastA5, A8, A4 (can't remember if I tried A3), in several different types of guitars. They all sounded great in every guitar. I personally just don't get along with the "shrill"/"brittle"/"sizzle"/"thin"/"superbright"/"whatever" top end. The A5 was about as bright as I can use.
I hear a noticeable difference between the polished A5 mag in the C5 and a rough cast, Unoriented A5 with the Custom wind. I rolled the polished A5, the rough unoriented A5, and the original Ceramic through my TB-5. All sounded good - but sounded better or worse in different guitars depending on body wood and bridge. I really dig the ceramic mag in my roasted swamp ash strat. It’s really light weight and with a 2-point, non-locking Trem, it can sound a little ‘soft’ depending on what pickup you have in it. The ceramic custom lifts this guitar to a whole new level.
